Now that the preparations were completed, was there a reason for him to slack off?
With both his palms, Lennox slammed the edge of the magical circle causing it to instantly glow and burst in heat.
The flames speedily circled around Lennox and dramatically grew larger, generating a forceful fire cyclone. Seeing the burning flames advancing towards him at full speed, Sandro dashed away like a bat out of hell.
'Heavens!!! that was too close, the bastard doesn't even care if he killed us accidentally'
Now that things tensed out, Kai assumed that he really need to get Everly out of that beast before Lennox burn them all together. As Everly told him, with activating the power cristal to boost the magic on his arrows, kai aimed at the Shols' head, exactly at the empty hole that Everly left.
As Sandro has long since released the chain, the beast has been swinging his long neck randomly hitting anything reachable, which gave Kai quiet hard time, however, he is an elite knight, few seconds of concentration would provide him with a perfect opportunity.
And once the opportunity arrived, Kai directed three arrows in a row, piercing its head through the large empty space. The moment the Shols' body dropped dead, Kai immediately ran to it.
"Milady!!!! Milady!!!!".
After calling for her few times, Everly finally responded by piercing her sword from the inside so Kai could locate her. Immediately after seeing the swords' tip, Kai pulled a long knife from his belt, stabbing and slashing the monsters' abdomen. At last, he managed to open a path enough for Everly to crawl from, she barley pulled her leg out when a sudden stream burst out of nowhere, too strong that it sent her flying couples of feet away.
" OH GOD, MILADY ".
Seems like by the time Lennox was done with the eggs and parasites, he turned to hurriedly finish the Shol off but was struck with the scene of Everly covered in guts and purple sticky fluids. Instantly, waves of goosebumps raised in his back, without even reconsidering her physical condition, Lennox pulled a card and used all that has left of his mana to generate a stream of clean water.
' A LOVE IS SUPPOSED TO BE LOVEABLE!!! Why ARE YOU DOING THIS DISGUSTING SHIT?!!! AND HERE I WAS THINKING THAT YOUR JASMINE-LIKE SCENT WAS NICE!! Damn it'
When the waves pouring on her stopped, the Shols' corpse has already been turned to ashes not even leaving the spilt blood on the ground.
Everly jumped on her feet, frustrated, she said:" why did you do that?!!, you dog Lennox!!! ".
Annoyed, Lennox answered with raised brows:" this is my line, dumbass Everly. Is it fun swimming in guts? Or did your brain lost its last two cells?".
Everly chewed her words, and again after a pause, she said pouting:" master said that the Shols' eye is poisonous for humans, even little drops can kill them. It will be fine if they were covered, but mister Kai isn't wearing armour and I don't want him to die".
At first, Lennox was nonplussed by her answer, but he soon regained his composure. Shifting his gaze to Kai saying dryly:" which reminds me. Kai, you were about to cry when I said I didn't need an armour, but look at you, not wearing one and causing troubles. What a shameless fellow you are".
Now that the pressure suddenly fell on him, Kai glanced at Sandro hoping that he might help, but as soon as he saw the dumb expression Sandro wore Kai gave up immediately, seems like the guy was still processing the events and can't be reached.
Kai would never tell these kids that he is not wearing armour because if he does then his flat chest won't be seen, and men will roam around him thinking he is a woman.
He surely doesn't want them to know, however, Kai can't just ignore a direct question from an imperial member, a crown prince of them all.
With a cold sweat hanging on his temple, kai awkwardly smiled saying:" ah, you see, your highness, I am an Archer, I fight from far distant which does not require me to be full armour. Overall, my lowly life is nothing to compare with your highness's".
" is that so?", Lennox said with a cunning smirk hidden behind the red ribbon.
' he figured it out!!!!! How can he see right through me?!!!'
Kai did not answer, but silently staring at the ground. Seeing him tense like that, Lennox decided not to bully him and pull things further, sighing, he said:" never mind, for now, take her to change before that smell sticks on her skin".
Everly exclaimed: "ah, I didn't bring any extra clothes".
Lennox:" it's fine, just use mine. I have to deal with the formation and ensure the safety of the inhabitants, you go first ".
As Kai warped Everly with his coat and carried her away, Everly never averted her gaze from Lennox, staring at him until he disappeared from her sight.
' .......I want to be like him'
*****
When Kai and Everly arrived at the camp, they were faced by the scene of Ethan and Noah leaning on each other, deeply in sleep that they were snoring.
' this is not the type of (keeping watch) that the prince meant'
Irritated by their carelessness, Kai threw his heavy quiver on their faces causing them to jolt awake.
Startled, Ethan blurted:" you are back, that was too soon, aah, we were just pretending to sleep, you know like a prank, hahaha".
Kai scanned the two knights from head to toe, his expression seemed as if he was looking at two garbage cans, however, he kept his silence.
Being stared at in that way sobered the two men, and made them realize that one of the main characters was missing.
Noah:" what about the crown prince?".
Kai placed Everly down on her legs, rummaging through the luggage he answered:" he said to leave first since he needed to take care of other things ".
Once he finished his sentence, Noah suddenly exclaimed:" hey look, the must is fading ".
Ethan said in awe:" Oh god, this kid is giving me new reasons to fear him every day. Isn't that formation made by an A-class monster?!!".
Ignoring them, Kai pulled a black sit of clothes and handed them to Everly. He subconsciously said:" you know how to change outfits right? Here".
He didn't expect an answer to that, but he also did not expect that Everly would just stand stiff with a troubled expression.
Ethan blurted:" are serious?!!!".
Noah:" for real? Even five years old toddlers know how to put on some clothes ".
The more they talked the more Everlys' face crumbled, Kai assumed that she might cry at this rate, and if she did, then these two idiots are as good as dead. Kai, carried Everly and sat her on his arm, patting her back, he scolded both Ethan and Noah:" of course she wouldn't know, you stupid punks, she is a lady, and is supposed to be pampered ".
After a pause, he changed his tone and gently said to Everly:" it's okay milady, I will help you".
While watching him walk away with Everly in his arms, Ethan Whispered:" is it alright to let a man assist a lady dressing?".
Noah answered, also whispering:" well, Kai is more a woman than a man he is more suited for the mission than us, and I guess it's fine since she is a kid".
Kai took her behind the carriage and carefully unbuttoned her shirt. with a towel covering her head, Kai couldn't see her face but the little drops falling on his hand told him she was crying.
Quickly, Kai grabbed her cheeks, exclaiming in worry:" milady!! What's wrong?!".
Everly said sobbing:" I am sorry ".
Kai:" for what? Milady never did anything bad".
Everly:" I caused troubles for Kai.... if I was as reliable as Lennox..... then I, I won't cause troubles.... I would be useful ".
Kai brushed her tears away soothing her, he said:" what trouble? It's my honour to serve milady. And milady is already this amazing, you are as reliable as the crown prince, there is no need to feel imperfect ".
Kai comforted her until she finally stopped crying, and after dressing, Everly decided to take a nap until Lennox returns since he had to handle many complicated things to her at the city.
Midnight passed not long ago, and Lennox has already returned to the camp looking annoyed and displeased.
He sat on a boulder near the fire, mumbling:" screw those filthy old farts, ugh, I still feel disgusted. I want to peel my skin, ew".
Staring at Lennox, Kai whispered to Sandro, confused:" what happened? Why is his highness so irritated?".
Being worked out all night without rest, Sandro really hadn't any energy to speak, but he also did not want Kai to keep nagging him until he talks.
Sighing, Sandro said:" after burning all the corpses, that deadly smell instantly faded, thus the prince had no reason to keep that ribbon warped around him. So when we went to meet the mayor, there happened to be some nobles and they were so delighted about his highness coming to rescue them that they clung to him altogether. He has just taken off that ribbon and was too used to the little girls' jasmine fragrance that these people smelled like shit to him, I am not overreacting when I tell you that he really puked meals belonged to nine days ago".
Nonplussed, Kai could not comment anything on the story, but only 'ah' escaped from his mouth.
After calming a bit, Lennox dryly asked:" where is Everly?".
Kai:" she has been asleep for a while now".
" I see", Lennox said solemnly after a pause:" for now take a rest. I reactivated the crystal gate it shall be ready by dawn, and then we depart back to the capital. However, those two shit-heads are staying here to survey and provide a more detailed report about the actual damage, and don't bother me when the medical teams arrive, just let them go and do their job".
He said this then entered the carriage without looking back at the troubled Kai.
Inside the spacious cold carriage, Everly laid at the corner facing the wall, deep in sleep.
"Oi, you sleeping?". Lennox asked, but no response came.
He pulled a card from his belt bag, with a pof sound, the card in his hand turned to a silky nightwear. Lennox glanced at Everly then helplessly sighed.
'I can't care less'
He unbuttoned his shirt and changed to the new nightwear, which basically looked the same as the one she was wearing. Lennox tossed his old clothes aside, preparing to throw himself on the soft futon when he noticed that his clothes covered something underneath them.
******
An unknown time passed after she fell asleep, Everly slowly opened her eyes on the sounds of rustling and crunching.
She turned her head to be hit by the scene of Lennox blankly munching on her snacks, the very snacks that Rachel packed them with love and put them in a basket, she was told to share some with Lennox, but it seems he doesn't need anyone to invite him.
After taking few minutes to process what was happening, Everly jolted up and dashed to the basket, sadly, the basket that was once filled with her favourite food was wiped clean.
Silence covered the atmosphere for a brief moment until Everly exploded:" YOU ATE EVERYTHING!!!!! EVEN THE CHEESE POPCORN!! LENNOX YOU DOG YOU MEANY!!".
Lennox covered one ear barking:" shut up, you crazy monkey!! My ears will bleed".
Everly rebuked: "you won't even apologize!! Hmph, mannerless punk".
Lennox: "huh? You wish to die? Forget it, I will buy you others from the capital".
Everly:" what do I need it then, it takes eight hours to reach there".
Lennox crossed his arms saying with irritated face: "no it doesn't, I fixed the crystal gate, we can return there in no time".
Hearing that, Everly was slightly taken aback, she sat next to Lennox wearing a depressed expression.
' he fixed everything his majesty told him to, his majesty must really trust him. Then.....why don't master rely on me too, am I that useless?'
Noticing the clouded expression on her face, Lennox asked:" what's wrong? You are that hungry?".
Everly said in distressing tone:" Lennox is strong and dependable, you always help his majesty, I too want to help.....".
Lennox averted his gaze from her saying:" no one is flawless, even I have my own blemishes ".
Everly rested her head on her knees while facing Lennoxs' direction:" you mean your curse?".
With a pause, Lennox said calmly:" I am not cursed ".
Everly:" but the sun hurts you ".
Lennox lent his back on the wooden wall behind him:" it's just how I am, I was born like this. It is only natural for frost to avoid the sun".
Everly fairly giggled:" does that mean Lennox is a snowman?".
Lennox smirked:" Yeah, something like that ".
Everly raised her head staring at the ceiling:" if you were a snowman, aren't you supposed to be cold?".
He leisurely pulled the silver ring from his thumb and placed his hand on her cheek. Waves of absolute coldness flow through his hand to her body, after seeing her surprised reaction, Lennox withdrew his hand and returned the ring back to his thumb saying: "are you satisfied now? You have been asking a lot today ".
Everly pouted:" eh! You ate all my snacks, this is the least you could do".
"Pfft- I am not going to argue with you about that", Lennox said with a faint smirk:" it has been long since I talked to someone casually like this ".
Everly hummed:" if you aren't cursed, then why is everyone scared from you, it's not like you are ugly or something ".
For some reason, Lennox was a little pissed, but he still calmly answered:" basically, I hate everyone, if could I would have wiped the whole humanity. It is normal to fear someone who is much stronger and hates you from his bones ".
Everly paused for a good while before asking: "then what about me?".
Lennox: "hm?".
Everly: "do you hate me as well?".
Another moment of silence fell on them until Lennox broke it, he turned to face Everly who was already looking at him, saying:" I don't. You are just a passerby in my life, one day you will leave to your own misery. Most importantly, your existence itself is meant to be loved, who am I to oppose the world and hate you, though, I still don't like you, you are way too annoying ".
With a smile that was obviously forced despite her sorrow, she said:" well at least I am not hated".
' why did she turn so gloomy and depressed ou of the blue?'
Time passed and Everly did not say anything and so Lennox kept quiet. But suddenly Everly whispered: "Lennox.....".
"Hn".
" can we become friends?".
" ha? I thought you said we are already friends ".
" no, I want to be real friends. That after I leave, if we ever met...you would still talk to me laugh with me and get angry on me, that you will point at my mistakes and correct them, that you will depend on me, that if we ever been in trouble we would seek each other. This type of friends that I wish to be with you"
"..."
" can't we?".
" do you have something important you wish to?"
" I do have ".
" so do I".
"....."
" if you happened to be near that end, but feared to fail and hesitated. You can ask me to lend a hand, I shall do everything possible. So you should do the same to me when the time comes ".
" hn....I will".
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